An ex-pupil who has worked at Holy Rosary Catholic Voluntary Academy for over 30 years is looking forward to taking part in the school’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
The primary school, in Burton, will be marking the historic occasion with a tea party for parents, staff and pupils on July 2nd, followed by Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Nottingham.
Guests will include current and ex-pupils and staff and members of the local clergy and community.
One current staff member who will be at the celebrations is Annette Batchelor, who attended the school as a pupil and has worked there as a Teaching Assistant for 31 years.
She said she had happy memories of the school as a pupil and loves her role there now.
“I have lovely memories of the fishpond that used to be at the school and sitting around it with my friends, eating our sandwiches. The equipment we had back then was very different. We had chalkboards, little packets of wax crayons with paper and pencils. All the toys we had were wooden or metal. We had a walk in fold away playhouse and a wooden chest on wheels, containing wooden building blocks. The building blocks were so well made that they were still in use in the year 2000!
“The dinners were very much meat and veg and I remember the chocolate pudding with green custard, which was mint flavoured. I also remember the cornflake cake. I have happy memories of attending the school. I went on to Blessed Robert Sutton and when I got married, I actually had my wedding reception there.”
Mrs Batchelor worked for BT before being employed by Holy Rosary, in Alexandra Road, Winshill, in 1996.
She said: “I had a phone call from the school asking me if I’d be interested in a job, after I’d asked them to let me know if anything came up. They rang me and asked me when I could start and I said tomorrow and I never looked back. I was put with a class of 39 children which included a set of triplets and a set of twins. My children were here in Year 1 and 2 at the time. I loved it because it was a place that I could really be myself. It hasn’t changed in terms of it still being very much like a family and having a real community feel to it.”
Also hoping to attend the anniversary celebrations is Chris Varney, the widow of Frank Varney, the first Headteacher at Holy Rosary. Mr Varney was appointed in March 1966, seven months after the school opened in September 1965. The school’s official opening was held in 1966.
Mr Varney was Headteacher at the school for 18 years.
Mrs Varney said: “At the time he was 37 and was the youngest Headteacher to be appointed at a school in Burton. He enjoyed his job.”
Marie Dyche is the current Headteacher at Holy Rosary and said everyone was looking forward to marking this momentous occasion.
She said: “Holy Rosary holds a special place in the heart of many in our community. As the school commemorates this 60th anniversary, we celebrate and thank the staff, families and pupils who have been a part of its journey both past and present. We look forward in hope to the next chapter for the school and all those it serves.”
The school is hoping to revamp some outside areas as part of the anniversary celebrations and is looking for donations of oil-based paint to re-coat benches, fence paint, gravel stone, seeds, plants, herbs, planters and large stones. If you can help please contact the school on 01283 562686 or office@hrb.srscmat.co.uk
Annette with pupils at Holy Rosary.
Annette as a pupil at Holy Rosary.
